Scraping Therapy (“Gua sha-刮沙”) involves repeated pressured strokes over lubricated skin with a smooth edge scraping tool.
The smooth edge is placed against the pre-oiled skin surface, pressed down firmly, and then moved down along the pathway of the acupuncture meridians, along the surface of the skin, and causing blood colouration of the skin. The colour of the “sha” varies according to the severity of the patient’s blood stasis—which may correlate with the nature, severity and type of the disorder—appearing from a dark blue-black to a light pink.
Benefits of scraping
- Purges the body of toxins
- Expunges the body of fever and excessive heat
- Promotes blood circulation
- Kills pain and relieves muscle tension.